FUNimation

Although you can find Japanese episodes of Dragon Ball Super streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation Now, if you're like me you've been waiting for an English version. Thankfully we won't have to wait much longer as Toei Anim...

Over the years, I have been bothering telling anime distribution companies to bring over one of the best anime comedies ever made (to me it is), Nichijou - My Ordinary Life. Anime distribution company Funimation, announc...

Your Name (Kimi no na wa), the astoundingly successful anime film of 2016, will finally reach our US shores next year, thanks to the great foks at Funimation! If you've been living under an anime rock, Your Name is ...

Oct 12 //
Salvador G Rodiles
While a possible outcome for Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc’s stopping point would’ve been before the Danganronpa Zero light novel started, show chose to cover the event that gave birth to the Tragedy that plunged the world into despair. My guess is that the story where Junko lost her memories happened right after the Hope’s Peak High School’s 77th class became her followers. Nonetheless, the series picked a great spot to wrap things up since the point of this whole show was to make the audience miserable.
Unfortunately, Hope’s Peak High School’s major event couldn’t surpass the despair from Chiaki’s sad fate. Sure, lots of lives were lost during this catastrophic moment, but it doesn’t come close to the pain that we had to deal with when the Ultimate Gamer experienced the first punishment scene. Either way, it was neat that we were given an idea of how things went haywire before the events of the first game.
In the end, it doesn’t hinder Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc solid pacing that got made things more intense each week. The show’s transition from a whacky comedy to a title that makes folks miserable helped the whole thing come together nicely. One moment, you’re laughing at the 77th class’ antics. Then you’re hit with an array of emotions that range from shocked reactions to literal sadness. This feeling that came from watching the show is the spirit of the Danganronpa series since the games played with our emotions in many different ways.
Even though the show’s designs didn’t capture the game series’ stylish visuals, Lerche’s strengths in Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc was the way how they handled the cast’s reactions to things, along with the timing behind specific scenes. The show’s comedic segments were filled with many exaggerated expressions and the despair-inducing moments are handled in a way where they do their job. Thanks to these aspects, one could tell that everyone was doing their best to ensure that the series achieved its goal of making people suffer greatly.
Despite the series’ goal to drive the audience to despair, Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc was meant to fill our hearts with misfortune while we awaited the resolution to the events that Makoto and the Future Foundation were dealing with in Danganronpa 3 – Future Arc. In the end, I came out in a state of sadness while I waited to see how the whole program would get resolved. It was this feeling that got me to tune in every week since the projects team made did their best to make sure that the transition from a fun title to a depressing one would go smoothly.
Another aspect that made the show’s “Despair Arc” fun was its Easter Eggs and the way how they portrayed the gang’s Ultimate Talents. Whether it was seeing brief cameos of characters from the Danganronpa Zero light novel (such as the Ultimate Secret Agent) or seeing Nagito and the Ultimate Hope’s abilities in action, these elements contribute to the evidence that this whole title was a labor of love.
Lerche may have had a bad record with the original Danganronpa anime that adapted the first game’s story, but their involvement with Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School proved to us that they can create a show that’s a worthy sequel to the previous titles. This shows that when you have the right folks involved in a project, the final product can result in a wonderful thing that’ll exceed people’s expectations. If Spike Chunsoft decides to join forces with Lerche for another original Danganronpa show again, then we might be in for another entry that’ll bring us the good kind of despair. In the end, I guess this means that hope triumphs after all.
[Witness the birth of Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc's Tragedy on FUNimation]

Hope will never dieEver since the Danganronpa 3 anime’s staff was revealed, I always had faith that this show would do a great job in wrapping up the whole series. With Kazutaka Kodaka (The Danganronpa game series’ Writer) being inv...

Oct 07 //
Salvador G Rodiles
From day one, I always had a feeling that Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc was going to do something big with the real Chiaki (a.k.a. one of Danganronpa 2's best girls). The second game always made us assume that she was just nothing but an AI that was made to guide Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair’s cast through the Neo World Program that came with the system from the get-go; thus making it obvious that the actual Ultimate Gamer was going to have a huge role in the story. While I came into the series with this thought, it didn’t prevent me from feeling the sadness that came from her fate.
Just like her AI counterpart, the real Chiaki was the symbol of hope for her classmates since she did her best to keep everyone together. Perhaps the sad part about this outcome was that the very person who encouraged her to undertake this role ended up being the tool in turning everyone into Junko’s followers. All in all, the whole thing did justice to the Danganronpa game’s tendency to use its major moments to hit the audience really hard.
While the whole point of this show was to see how the Danganronpa 2 gang fell into despair, we never really knew about the event that drove them down this path. It was this one little hole that gave the series’ team the ammunition to fill it with the elements that would drive the audience into a state of sadness. The brilliant part about it too was how most of these aspects were able to link back to Danganronpa 3 – Future Arc as a means to set up the truth behind the killing game in the Future Foundation’s headquarters.
The unfortunate thing about this moment was that no one was able to save Chiaki while she was a victim of the first punishment segment. In fact, the whole thing gave off a feeling that threw you into a state of denial that some sort of miracle could happen that could save her from her misfortune; however, this is Danganronpa that we’re talking about, so we knew that there was no way that this would end well. Surprisingly, the staff’s decision to use the 8-bit version of “Homicide” from Danganronpa 2, which went well with the depressing scene; thus changing the way how we view this song. Honestly, the team deserves some mad props for doing this since the tune was originally used in the part of the game where we prepare for the title's last ordeal. Because of Chiaki’s scene, this song will continue to make me think of the despair that happened during her final moments.
The thing that made this all work was that the show's team took every ounce of hope that the gang had and threw it in a blender. It was a fine example of how you can give the viewers something to grab on to and then crush it before their very eyes. This was also done with Yukizome’s transition to becoming one of Junko’s followers, a twist that also complemented the game series’ surprising aspects.
While Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Despair Arc left us in a state of sadness, Lerche continues to show us that they’re capable of delivering a sequel to the Danganronpa games that’ll please fans of the series. Even if they don’t manage to top the sad feeling that came from Junko’s recent accomplishments, they have shown us that they could handle this brand well when the proper conditions are set in stone. Since it was a nice ride to go from feeling joy to facing misery each week, it’s safe for me to say that it was one of the great moments of the Summer 2016 Anime Season.
[Let Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc brainwash you on FUNimation]

Goodbye HopeThere’s something wonderful about having a segment that one saw from a mile away surprise them greatly. In fact, this is one of the joyous feelings that the Danganronpa series offers to its audience.
We may have known t...

The anime adaptation of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is among one of the best anime shows in the last two decades and is still fondly remembered to this day. However, there is one thing that rubbed people the wrong way w...

Remember that time when Crunchyroll revealed that they were entering the home release market? Well, it turns out that this was one of their plans with their new relationship with FUNimation to bring more anime to the masses. ...

Sep 07 //
Salvador G Rodiles
If there’s one thing that I wasn’t expecting, it was the show taking us down a trip through memory lane as it revisits one of the key aspects of Danganronpa 2’s second trial. In the game, I assumed this was an incident that happened before Fuyuhiko, Mahiru, Hiyoko, Ibuki and Mikan attended Hope’s Peak High School since none of the other cast members were in incident’s setting. Nonetheless, the beauty about this segment was witnessing the major elements that lead to the unfortunate fate of the Ultimate Little Sister. All in all, the strength of this scene was how well the outcome hit everyone. The happy school times were diminishing and the show's real tone was creeping in on us.
Even though we’re aware that things were going to take a turn for the worse, Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc’s current strengths lie in how it pieces everything together, along with continuing its trend of placing the main cast in a couple priceless silly moments. Perhaps one of the most priceless moments that occurred recently was how they exaggerate Nagito’s luck. Not only did this guy get a couple people expelled to the point where it resulted in a deadly conflict during Danganronpa 3 – Future Arc, the guy somehow ends up in the most convenient spot during situations where many folks wouldn’t survive. Sure, he pulled off some ridiculous maneuvers in Danganronpa 2, but the timing behind how Lerche animated the scenes brings out a wonderful side of his talent.
Other than that, the other thing was getting the chance to learn more about the Ultimate Imposter. Out of all the characters in the cast, he was the only one who we didn’t get to know more about. His connection to Ryota Mitarai the Ultimate Animator shows us his caring side that he exhibited when he wanted to protect everyone during the first chapter of Danganronpa 2. The relationship between the two characters is an example of one of the possible hopes that’ll likely be crushed down the road. One person wants an identity to maintain their great talent and the other wants to create an anime that’ll change the world; thus setting up the foundation for the mastermind to crush their dreams.
While Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc was doing its best to maintain its humor when things were starting to get real, the staff’s efforts are finally paying off as the two major Ultimate Despairs make their debut at Hope’s Peak. The wonderful thing about this outcome was that the elements for them to create absolute despair were made before they even attended the school. Hajime already lost his emotions to the Ultimate Hope/Kamakura Project and the school’s trustees have already covered up a tragic event. Even though Junko had a couple things planned, her trump card was exploiting the situations that already unfolded before she came into the scene. It's thanks to this setup that the show's transition to its real tone has been a fun ride so far.
Throughout the show’s recent batch of episodes, I was thinking that the best point for Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc to end the series would be after the event that made way for the Danganronpa Zero light novel since the team was likely aiming to tell a story that fans of the franchise haven’t heard yet. Instead, we witnessed the major events that gave birth to the first major incident that put Hope Peak’s High School’s reputation on the line. The fact that we got to see Junko’s manipulation and analytical skills at work well in getting us excited for when she brings the whole world down. Since she paid attention to Ryota’s animation, I have a feeling that she’ll utilize the art of subliminal message to convert everyone towards the path of despair. Honestly, the ridiculousness behind her schemes is what makes this whole series entertaining. At the same time, it reminds us why every game segment that involves her leaves the audience entertained.
The catch is that we have to experience the unfortunate feeling from witnessing the seeds that’ll lead to our favorite Danganronpa 2 characters succumb to despair. If Mikan’s situation is anything to go by, Junko might use the same method she learned from Ryota to win everyone over to the despair side. While this was an inevitable situation, it doesn’t change that the fact that it’s going to be sad seeing most of these characters to become an entirely different person. Nonetheless, the staff still found some ways to turn this sad moment into something worthwhile, such as Nagito getting out-lucked by the Ultimate Hope. Honestly, it’s impressive that the team can still throw in some humor when the situation at Hope’s Peak Academy is taking a turn for the worst.
Since there are still a few loose ends around, Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc still has some secrets that we have yet to see. With this segment and Future Arc passing their halfway point, there’s a ton of open content that’ll be worthwhile when we learn about the other major mastermind. So far, the show continues to be a great addition to the franchise with its story containing the right elements to please those who kept up with every Danganronpa installment. As the program’s despair levels begin to rise, I’m certain that things will only continue to get even better later on. Of course, I’m waiting to see what the show will do with Chiaki, since it’ll likely be something that’ll hit us very hard.
[You can give on hope with Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak Academy – Despair Arc at FUNimation.]

What is hope?For a second I was expecting Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc to mostly focus on its comedic elements until the saga was halfway done. Lo and behold, things have started leaning towards the grimmer side of things as the seri...

Jul 27 //
Salvador G Rodiles
With hope and despair being two things that go hand in hand, Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope Peak’s High School – Despair Arc’s first two episodes work well in making the audience feel relieved after witnessing the intense moments that happened earlier in the week. Hell, the whole thing played out like an over-the-top high school comedy series, as the Ultimate Housekeeper Chisa Yukizome goes out of her way to make sure that the main cast of Danganronpa 2 (except Hajime) uses their school time to create great memories.
A majority of the great laughs came from the gang’s exaggerated and wacky personalities, a feature that made them very fun to follow during Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. With the animation being completely original, this lead to some a priceless segments throughout the series, such as Gundham the Ultimate Breeder appearing on top of a bunch of ruins while performing an incantation that might summon a powerful demon, or Nekomaru the Ultimate Team Manager’s deadly farts that are on par with One Punch Man’s Saitama’s punch. So far, it lives up to the game's comedic aspects that occur when no one is getting murdered.
When you compare the effort put into the show's crazy scenes alongside Danganronpa 3 – Future Arc’s stuff, it’s possible that a majority of the manpower was placed into Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc; however, these differences are likely a matter of the latter starting off as a comedy than budget management, so there’s a chance that the folks at Lerche are making sure that both sagas have their own distinct style. Overall, this move benefits the series since the audience is getting their taste of hope and despair during the same week. Of course, the best moment from this format is going to be when the tones of the show's two arcs decide to trade places.
Even though Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc made sure that Yukizome and the Danganronpa 2 gang’s best quirks were at their highest, the show still reminds us of the later events that’ll set the pieces for the first major tragedy to occur. The interesting part about it is getting to learn about Hajime’s predicament that made him decide to be part of the Ultimate Hope project.
In Danganronpa 2 and the light novel known as Danganronpa Zero, I felt that the Hope’s Peak High School Board forced Hajime into this project against his own will. The idea that his desire to remain at Hope’s Peak played a role in being part of the experiment adds a new layer to his character. He saw this opportunity as a hope to overcome the despair of not being able to continue his studies as a reserve course student, yet this choice ruined his future (and the world’s state) until he found his new path at the end of Danganronpa 2. Seeing that the original mastermind is definitely plotting her actions from behind the scenes, the subtle elements of this segment act as the main aspect that goes against the show's current positive vibe.
While we’re on the topic of things that’ll lead to absolute despair, the fact that Chiaki was an actual person is one of the most surprising things to come out of Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc. This opens up to a lot of questions in regards to the events in the present; however, there’s still a chance that she might not survive, so this possibility could be thrown out the window. I guess the important question is whether or not something happens to her that results in Yukizome's students becoming the original mastermind's loyal followers.
Since both Danganronpa 3 Arcs have a few references to each other, Chiaki’s role as the Ultimate Gamer has the potential to lead to some juicy aspects if she’s a Remnant of Despair that’s still out there in the present. Either way, her inclusion in the series was a nice addition to the “Despair Arc’s” humor, as her passion for games brought everyone together in a fun way. However, once we get past the show's silly segments, I'm certain that her role is likely going to have a large impact on the story later on.
Despite the original Danganronpa anime failing to do justice to its source material, Danganronpa 3 – Despair Arc was able to overcome this burden and show its audience that it has the potential to become a worthy successor to the previous Danganronpa installments. Since the show’s “Future Arc” accomplished this as well, this proves that a studio that threw a foul ball in the past can step up their game when you have people who care about the series managing the project. If the gang can keep up this up this great record, then they’ll make their audience smile with their complete comic book that’ll present the last piece of evidence that's required to bring Danganronpa’s Hope’s Peak High School story to a triumphant close. In other words, the future is going to be a hopeful one after all.
[Fall into despair with Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School – Despair Arc at FUNimation.]

This is not going to end wellSometimes in life, the greatest things are those that occur out of an unexpected turn of events. These opportunities can give many people the chance to do things that they normally couldn’t do. In my case, Spike Chunsof...

Just when people were starting to doubt if Godzilla Resurgence (known as Shin Gojira in Japan) was ever coming to the United States, anime localization company Funimation comes to save day. Funimation anno...

Oct 05 //
Soul Tsukino
AOT: Junior High was first produced as a comedy parody spinoff manga that got many people's attention for being the exact opposite of what AOT was known for. It's silly, adorable, and made for a zany side series. Could the anime version do the same?
Right off the bat you know something is different when you see the familiar opening, only with more cute chibified characters with big heads standing in a stark field covered in blood. However that is only a bad dream as the main character of this series, Erin, wakes up in a field with his friends during lunch break. That scene right there was a cute little nod that this was not the original series.
We get to follow Erin, Mikasa, and all their friends as they go to the first day of Junior High. Gone is the start quasi-European world of a walled-in village and we are taken to modern (if made extremely adorable) Japan.
We get introduced to more of Erin's friends like the eating machine Sasha, the friendly Christa and her over protective friend Ymir, along with Jean, who seems to be Erin's foil for the series. We also get introduced to the titans, who go to the school next door. Oh, These titans are hungry all right!
But their tastes in this series tend to be a little more benign.
This series is not here to make you think, it's here to make you laugh. It's a silly comedy show much in the vein of Puni Puni Poemy or The Adventures of Haruhi-chan. Although it's hard to tell how deep the writing will be from just the first episode, it seems that this show uses a lot of sight gags and spoofing of anime troupes, including poking fun at its own source series, for its humor. While that kind of humor may not play to some. I think this show is hilarious!
For fans of the original material, you will get a laugh of just how adorably reimagined your favorite characters are in this series. For those of you that aren't familiar with attack on Titan can still enjoy the series as it does a good job at introducing the characters and the things they do are so silly, you won't need to have a prior knowledge of things when watching this to enjoy it.
Attack on Titan is currently streaming on Hulu and Funimation's website, so go ahead and check it out!
AOT: Junior High was first produced as a comedy parody spinoff manga that got many people's attention for being the exact opposite of what AOT was known for. It's silly, adorable, and made for a zany side series. Could the anime version do the same?

The D'awww will eat you alive!Attack on Titan is one of those series that it doesn't matter what they do, people pay attention to it. The graphically violent and gruesome series shot to popularity first as a manga and then as an anime series. Soon all kin...

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Are you upset over the fact that FUNimation's anime streams are only available in North America? Luckily, the studio's help section has revealed that they're planning to expand their digital content to other regions this...

What is probably one of the most anticipated Blu-Ray remasters in a long time, is set to be released just in time for Christmas on December 16th. The video from FUNimation looks fantastic, with the colors and details looking...

Our friends over at FUNimation have shared the newest trailer for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of one of last year's surprise pleasures, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. I went into seeing this movie with very low expectations, and...

Briefly: FUNimation has announced their latest nab this season. They'll be licensing and simulcasting Ping Pong, Masaaki Yuasa's upcoming Noitamina show, so you'll be able to catch it on their site and Hulu. The simulcast beg...

FUNimation is starting to show their licensing cards, and among them is the upcoming spring series Selector Infected WIXOSS.
An original show, the series composition will be done by Mari Okada (Tora Dora!, Nagi no Asukara) an...

Producers rejoice! FUNimation is now streaming the second season of the short anime series [email protected] The series of 3-minute episodes is actually called Petit [email protected], but nobody calls it that! Following the gag comedy anim...

If you're ready for more adventure, pompadours and space boobies, you'll be pleased to hear that Space Dandy has just had it's second season confirmed, and it'll be coming as soon as July. You may remember that the show was d...

To build excitement for the official premiere of the Attack on Titan dub at Anime Boston -- and to tear the geekier portions of the internet asunder with talk over whether certain voices are "too deep" or "just deep enough,"...

You may remember that I wasn't too hot on Blood-C or its sequel, The Last Dark. It really suffers from a listless plot that doesn't do much with its interesting lead character. However, it does have interesting moments, many...

This morning Funimation revealed via their official blog that they have acquired the home video rights to four series that were previously simulcast on their website: Date A Live, Code:Breaker, Karneval and Red Data Girl. All of the series will be released in June of 2014. What's that? You don't remember any of these series? Well that's why you have me here to refresh your memories silly!

Feb 21 //
Karen Mead
Kamisama Kiss DVD/Blu-Ray Complete Series (Hyb)
TMS Entertainment
Publisher: FUNimation
Release Date: February 11, 2014
MSRP: $54.98
Kamisama Kiss is a very skillfully done supernatural romance done in the shoujo style, and really, that could be the whole review right there. If you like the combination of shoujo aesthetics and supernatural characters, you will eat this show up with a spoon like it's chocolate pudding. Mmm. Sweet, sweet pudding.
What's more difficult to say is whether or not this show has much appeal outside of shoujo fans who already know what they like. While the plot moves at a good clip (no lazy filler episodes here) and the story remains engaging throughout, it's still a very shoujo-y tale filled with breathy songs, impossibly leggy characters, and plenty of luminescent blushing. Furthermore, while it's not a true reverse-harem show, the fact that main gal Nanami has several attractive, supernaturally-gifted guys vying for her attention might give some viewers cause to roll their eyes.
That said, I think the strength of the main character may be enough to win over some viewers who are new to the charms of shoujo. Poor Nanami gets kicked out of her house due to her absentee father's debts, and finds herself homeless at the start of the series. Through a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger, she becomes a supernatural creature called a "Land God" and inherits a shrine to live in. Unfortunately, the previous Land God's familiar-- a silver-haired fox demon, Tomoe-- isn't impressed with the idea of having a down-on-her-luck teen as his new God. What's a newbie divinity to do?
What's refreshing about Nanami is that she's very active, taking control of her own story rather than just letting things happen to her. True, becoming a Land God in the first place is something she kind of stumbles into, but that takes place in the first five minutes of the show; after that, she's all about making choices and moving forward. She makes mistakes from time to time, but her errors always feel age-appropriate rather than the result of stupidity. She's a fairly realistic heroine whose bullheaded determination is a great source of strength, yet it's often her biggest problem as well; it's hard not to root for her.
Naturally, handsome fox-spirit Tomoe is more cool and detached, and while his warming up to Nanami over the course of the series was something I fully expected, the way it's done isn't strictly predictable. In true "defrosting Ice King" fashion I expected Tomoe to talk down to Nanami and treat her basically like dirt until the final episode, at which point he would reveal that he's actually in love with her. I guess that's still kind of what happens, but in practice it's a little more nuanced and interesting than I anticipated, with more give and take.
There isn't a ton of action, but Tomoe is a very hands-on kind of familiar and takes insults to his mistress very seriously, so don't be surprised to see some supernatural brawls go down. The magic is all mined from Japanese folklore, so be prepared for plenty of talisman-throwing as well. As a romance primarily, fight scenes were never going to be a big draw here, but I felt the series found a good balance between action and talking-head scenes; a liberal dose of humor helps keep things interesting as well.
As is my habit, I watched the series subtitled, where a lot of the usual suspects abound if you're used to watching your shows in Japanese. However, I checked out an episode or two of the dub to assess its quality, and I don't think you can really go wrong with either option here; the dub is well-cast and it seems like some care was taken with the translation. I found Tia Ballard's Nanami to be a bit too loud, but then again, if I were in Nanami's position I might find myself yelling a lot too.
This set is pretty light on extras, featuring only a few commentaries from the English ADR director Jerry Jewell and members of the cast. I could complain about the lack of bonus stuff, but this is the bare bones release; fans who want the whole Kamisama Kiss experience, complete with postcards and hair pins and what have you, should pick up the Kamisama Kiss Goddess Edition box set, MSRP $129.98. But these 13 episodes are strong enough on their own to warrant the reasonable asking price here without the need to guild the lily.
I've attempted to elaborate on it, but what I said at the beginning of this review still stands: this is a really good shoujo supernatural romance. If you like that, jump on this. If you're not the biggest shoujo fan, but you like your heroine's feisty and your shows filler-free, Kamisama Kiss may be worth checking out anyway. It passed "The Wilson Test"-- by which I mean, my husband actually started watching it (and laughing along with the jokes) even though I didn't ask him to, and let me tell you: not every shoujo series passes that test.
Score: 8.0 – Great. A great example of its genre that everyone should see, regardless of their interest.

Doing the God thingWhen I dream of becoming God, these fantasies usually don't involve a white-haired pretty boy with fox ears who follows me around and does my bidding; clearly, I've been doing it wrong. Now that Kamisama Kiss has taught me th...

Excellent news for Dragon Ball fans who may have felt short-changed following the decision to nix the Majin Buu saga from the recently-remastered Dragon Ball Z Kai. New episodes are finally scheduled to air this Spr...

Attack on Titan, as I'm sure we're all aware, is a pretty huge deal. If it weren't clear by our awesome valentines and Karen going back to check out the episodes, a lot of us are fans. Some of us are not, but personally, I'm ...

[Edit: It seems that FUNimation have secured the streaming rights. One step at a time!]
Well, who honestly saw this coming? Ben-To, the anime that depicts the atrocities of discount bento combat, might finally have been licen...

In case you're making your convention plans for this year already, save some room for FUNimation in your schedules. They're attending a lot of the big ones, of course, like San Diego Comic Con, Otakon in Baltimore, SXSW Gamin...

Jan 19 //
LB Bryant
Growing up, Kazama was a fairly normal kid with fairly normal friends. Once he entered high school however, he and his friends changed into delinquents who were only interested in causing trouble. Oh yeah, they're bad asses who march to the beat of their own drum, play by their own rules and they think they're the baddest of the bad. What they don't know though is that compared to the girls of the Game Development club, they're small potatoes.
The girls of the Game Development club have a problem though; they do not have enough members and because they have failed to report any kind of accomplishment they are in danger of being disbanded. Throughout the first half of the episode, the story centers on these girls doing everything in their power (including torture... no seriously!) to get Kazama to join their club.
Before the season started I did not have D-Frag on my radar. I had never read the manga and honestly knew very little about the series other than what I had read in short plot synopsis' and saw in some trailers. After watching the first episode though, I am wondering how something as crazy as this ever managed to sneak past my radar. Simply put, D-Frag is the comedy that you have been waiting for.
In the beginning, it's easy to mistake this series as 'just another comedy'. The elements are all there and you could easily go through the first couple of minutes thinking that the series is just setting up another rom-com but that's when the other shoe drops and the girls of the Game Development club make their presence known by setting a fire in their club room which Kazama heroically puts out. From there the episode becomes a blur of chase scenes, enhanced coercion and laughs until he finally agrees to join the club.
As much as I laughed at this first episode though, I am forced to admit that there are problems right off the bat which one has to hope are addressed in future episodes. First off, the pacing for this episode felt lightning fast to me. Don't think for one moment that D-Frag is ever going to wait for you to catch up. The jokes are going to come fast and hard and if you're not ready to keep up with their pace, you're only going to be left behind eating dust.
The other issue that I feel is a problem with this first episode is that they might have tried to do a bit too much with their allotted time. For the first 18 minutes or so, the story is completely centered on the girls convincing Kazama to join by any means necessary and honestly I felt like that could have been the entire episode. The story was solidly delivered and once he hands over the signed club application, the episode could have ended. I would have been very happy and satisfied.
Unfortunately D-Frag goes another route and decides to squeeze even more into the episode by introducing another character and a story about the boys getting antagonized into peeking into the second floor girls changing room. It's not that I didn't laugh at this second story but by the end it did feel like it was a bit too much. In an ideal world future episodes will pace themselves a bit more and let the audience take a breath here and there.
Despite those complaints D-Frag is a series filled with great little moments that come together to create a fantastic whole. Is it perfect? Of course not. What it is though is funny and a very nice distraction from the real world. This first episode put a smile on my face for over twenty minutes and I'm willing to bet it's going to do the same for you. This one is recommended.

Very busy but oh so funny!I really enjoy moe, but I also really enjoy comedy. So what do you get when you sit me down in front of a solid combination of the two? You get one happy little camper who is ready to say please sir, may I have some more!

Earlier today, Funimation announced that they've acquired the rights for home video distribution of One Piece, season 6. One Piece, of course, remains super popular with fans and Funimation seems to be doing a fantastic job w...

Jan 17 //
LB Bryant Essentially, this is a series about Hiyori, a high school girl with a passion for watching mixed martial arts, and Yato, a minor god with not even a shrine to his name. One day Hiyori sees Yato about to be hit by a bus so she pushes him out of the way and ends up getting hit instead. Soon afterward, she discovers that she now resides in between the world of the living and the world of the dead and that her soul can and will leave her body without any warning at all. Not wanting to stay in this condition, she hires Yato to figure out how to fix her. It's unfair to say that this is a bad series or even a bad premiere episode. For what it is, it's actually a pretty decent first episode with hooks such as fights with giant phantoms, above-average character designs (Hiyori with a tail is just adorable, and I'm not ashamed to say that.) There are also some great comedic moments which made me laugh out loud, such as when Yato visits Hiyori in the hospital and appears beneath her covers; it sounds dirty and wrong, but if you watch the episode I'm sure that you'll laugh at Hiyori's reaction just as hard as I did.
Beyond the flashy action and animation however, there's a quieter side to Noragami that many people may not even notice due to how subtle it is. The background music, composed by Taku Iwasaki, is actually quite well done in this first episode. Blending into the background perfectly, it's very easy to miss these tracks but if you listen closely (or not so closely during the fight scenes) you'll find that the music to be one of the best things about this premiere. I'm not saying that I'm going to go out and pre-order the soundtrack as soon as it becomes available, but I also couldn't imagine this episode being nearly as interesting without this particular score in the background.
The major issue with this first episode is what I alluded to in the first paragraph... for some reason, it's just not that memorable. Sure, it's fun while it lasts but once it is over there really isn't a lot here to make you desperately want to see more or even remember much about it days (or even hours)later. There's just nothing to really make it stand out.
I want to like Noragami and say it's going to be a fantastic ride, but at this point it would be impossible to say that and keep a straight face. Maybe it'll get better and more memorable as the series progresses, but at this point, my feelings can be summed up with a nice loud 'Meh.' If you're looking for an amazing, out of this world, supernatural action-comedy, you can probably do better than this.
[See Hiyori's tail at Funimation]

Fun but not very memorableFor my first assignment here at Japanator, I decided to tackle First Impressions of Noragami. I had actually watched the first episode of this series right when it first premiered on Funimation's site, but in just a few short days, I had almost completely forgotten what I had seen. That's never a good sign, is it?

Jan 06 //
Pedro CortesAquarion Evol DVD/Blu-ray Part 1Studio: SatelightLicensed by FUNimationRelease Date: 12/3/2013MSRP: $69.98 [Amazon | RightStuf]
Taking place 12,000 years after Aquarion, the humans of planet Vega are being attacked by unknown assailants from the planet Altair, across the cosmos. The populace is protected by Neo-DEAVA, an organization that sorties combining robots to fight off the invaders. Neo-DEAVA is also divided by gender, consisting of separate teams of men and women. That status quo is broken after Amata Sora and Mikono Suzushiro are pulled into the conflict during a particularly brutal attack. Somehow, Amata is able to break every Neo-DEAVA safeguard preventing men and women from combining, forming the powerful Aquarion Evol. From that point on, Amata and Mikono are drafted into Neo-DEAVA, where we slowly learn that certain elements are very similar to events that occurred 12,000 years prior.
This is where a familiarity with the original Aquarion would be handy. From the first episode, a movie becomes an important plot point between Amata and Mikono, and I'm pretty sure that film recreates events from the first show. Throughout this half of the show, it becomes clear that the main antagonist from the original Aquarion and is back for further nefarious purposes. While I do feel that I'm losing something, Evol has done a good job thus far in keeping me informed about the past and its connection with the present. Viewers in similar situations should be able to keep up, though those with previous experience with the franchise will likely get more out of these connections.
In this half, Evol's story has remained fairly lighthearted. Much of the show has to do with these kids finally being able to interact with members of the opposite sex, which leads to the kind of teenage antics you'd expect. Story reasons prevent any sort of romance from growing, which adds more sexual tension to every interaction these kids have with each other. Most of the kids are the kind of flat caricatures you'd expect in any rom-com or mecha show, i.e. the BL lover, the hot-blooded pervert, the protective big brother, the tsundere, etc. Even so, they're stupidity is occasionally charming and I'll be damned if I'm not sold on the Amata/Mikono relationship. Barring some stupid stuff in the first couple of episodes, their blossoming love is adorable.
The Altairians are an interesting set of villains, but my lack of familiarity with the original show leaves me wondering if I'm missing something. Their plight, which forces them to come to Vega and attempt to kidnap specific people, makes you feel for them, even if their methods aren't right. The thing is, I can't tell if their plight has anything to do with prior machinations or if it's something different all together. Hopefully, the second half of the show will tell us more.
Evol is a damn pretty show. With male character designs from Chinatsu Kurahana (Samurai Flamenco, Uta no Prince-sama) and female designs from Ishida Kana (Ai Yori Aoshi, OreImo), all of these characters stand out. Even nonsensical elements like Mix's single portion of dyed hair and Zessica's ridiculously exposed outfit add a certain amount of charm. The verdant landscapes of Vega are gorgeous to look at, contrasted with the dying mountains of Altair looming over old cities falling apart. My only gripe with the visuals are the Aquarion's designs; I'm just not digging most of the variations of the Evol. If it's possible for a super robot to look too garish, then most of the Evol's forms are just that. The only design that I'm digging is the slimmer Spada, which resembles a fencer and is lacking in extra ornamentation and gloss.
The audio is pretty solid too, featuring music from the legendary Yoko Kanno. The over-the-top insert music used during combining sequences screams of old super robot shows, which is fine by me. The Japanese and English performances are equally good, so fans of either format will be pleased. Characters that are shrill and annoying on one vocal track are just as annoying on the other, so that's more a character issue than a performance one.
Overall, the first part of Aquarion Evol is pretty fun. It isn't the deepest or most nuanced of shows, but it did entertain me. To be fair, I wasn't expecting much else. Despite robot designs I wasn't too fond of, it had the kind of good, fast paced action you'd expect from a show with super robots that make their pilots climax when combined. The cliffhanger from this first part left me wanting more, so that's as about as good a recommendation as I can give. If you need some big, honking robot action, Aquarion Evol should give you your fix.
7.0 – Good. Films or shows that get this score good, but not great. These could have been destined for greatness, but were held back by their flaws. While some may not enjoy them, fans of the genre will definitely love them.

They take gattai very seriouslyWhen you think Shoji Kawamori, his work on Macross immediately comes to mind. It's been one of the most influential properties in Japan since it's debut. However, another major show that Kawamori worked on is Aquarion. You mi...

Jan 06 //
Ben Huber
Dandy is a dandy man in space. He scoots around the galaxy in search of new and unknown life forms with his refurbished Roomba, QT, and the cat-like alien Meow they accidentally recruit. By now you probably know why Space Dandy is a big deal, but for the uninformed I'll give you the basics: Shinichiro Watanabe is the skilled director behind anime hits like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Space Dandy is his latest series, and it's airing on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block prior to airing in Japan each week. This is the first time this has ever happened, so some people (read: me) are excited. I, in particular, hope its a sign of things to come. But enough about the hype surrounding the show -- is Space Dandy actually any good?
I've now watched the premier three times, first dubbed on Toonami, and twice subbed via FUNimation's website. The second time I watched it subbed I got a second opinion as well as my girlfriend sat down to watch along.
Let's just put it in no uncertain terms: Space Dandy is a blast.
The first half of the episode throws us right into Dandy waxing philosophical about his favorite female body part: the booty. QT and the narrator reign him in with fourth-wall-breaking humor and establish what the pair does (hunting aliens). On their hunt for new species, Dandy often decides a detour to his favorite breasturant chain, Boobies (subtle eh?), would be a good idea, which today leads them to Meow. The variety in alien design is great, and reminds me of a more vibrant (and scantily-clad) Star Wars cantina.
Dandy also macks on Honey, an attractive waitress who works at Boobies. The scene in the breasturant goes on for a tad too long given the low quality of the jokes here, but once Dandy, QT, and Meow leave and head towards alien hunting, the show leaps off and dives head first into a masterful action scene.
Weaving and dodging through a cacophony of gigantic alien monsters, Dandy and Meow attempt to capture one but honestly do a very poor job of it. You can really tell that the animators went all out here, as the pair fall between the creatures as they fight, get lit on fire, and then get crushed by falling debris. See if you can catch the Terminator reference! Other great moments here were Dandy completely missing with his gun, and the teleport gag (which had me laughing out loud).
The physical comedy also didn't disappoint.
I generally preferred the writing of the sub to the dub, but there wasn't anything particularly awful about the latter. FUNimation did a good job of altering the lines where needed to fit the lip flaps and keep things flowing. Obviously, the original dialogue will always have the advantage of, you know, being the original dialogue, but I've got to give FUNimation credit for their effort. You're not "missing out" on anything aside from the opening and ending songs by watching on Toonami.
Actually, here's a quick complaint about the dub, though. In the subbed version, Dandy mentions that his profession is something that starts with a "U," after which Honey proclaims "A maggot (ujimushi)?" taunting the clueless Dandy. In the dub, the exchange begins with an "A" and Honey guesses "An asteroid belt." Not only does this completely change the tone of the scene, but it also completely alters how you see Honey. In the dub, she's just a stereotypical blonde ditz, in the sub, she's pretending to be a blonde ditz and is mocking Dandy. I understand things have to be modified in the transition from sub to dub, but this was a disappointing change.
In a way though, that I can even have that complaint is amazing! We have a dub and a sub coming out simultaneously and that alone is awesome.
Space Dandy is not subtle. It's not a stunning premier that will knock the entire non-anime-watching world off its feet. But you know what? It's still freaking great. Despite the slow first half, once it really starts, it's pure goofy entertainment that shows off why we love anime so much: creative characters, vibrant colors, and gorgeous animation. Over time, given that it has a platform no other currently airing anime has, it may become something as big as Bebop. Only time will tell -- but Watanabe might just wring it out of him.
Also, everything must now have "dandy" attached to the beginning of its title. Dandy Impressions!

So, how dandy is he?It's a good time to be an anime fan. Right now, you can watch a brand new anime series on TV each week (dubbed, too!) several hours before it airs in Japan. If dubs aren't your thing, you can watch it subbed the following morning. Whatever your preferred way to watch your crazy Japanese cartoons, you can do it easily from any device you'd like. We're living in the future!
And so is Space Dandy.

I don't know if you've heard, but Space Dandy is kind of a big deal. With such a big release hitting both Japan and abroad in so many places, FUNimation has gone and posted where and when you can watch it.
You can watch Space...

Jan 02 //
Brittany VincentGood Luck Girl [BD+DVD]
Studio: SunriseLicensed by FUNimationRelease Date: 11/19/13MSRP: $69.98
Good Luck Girl follows Ichiko Sakura, a high school student with far too much good fortune. She's beautiful, popular, rich, and intelligent. She's also a bit of a jerk. She sits on her high horse, looking down on the helpless, ugly, and penniless peons. But she's quick to put on a facade if she believes she must to get ahead. Ichiko is ruthless, and she cares not what others think of her. That all changes when Momiji enters her life -- through a toilet, no less. Momiji is the god of poverty, and she's been tasked with taking a little bit of that good luck Ichiko has in droves and spreading it out to those around her. Little by little, Momiji draws the good luck out of Ichiko using a hilariously huge needle. If she doesn't Ichiko will continue sapping it from others as their quality of life continues to decline while hers improves. Even her butler feels the effects of her sucking the luck out of the air around her, nearly succumbing to a heart attack before Momiji can balance out the good fortune Ichiko's been hoarding.
It probably sounds pretty dark, right? Sometimes it can be. It's surprisingly adept at handling sensitive situations when it comes to Ichiko and her selfish ways, but overall this is a comedy that draws from the dynamic between Ichiko and Momiji. Momiji's a quick-witted loose cannon who, weirdly enough, also likes to cosplay. Think of her as a less sex-crazed version of Panty traipsing around in Lupin the 3rd outfits. There's no plan that's too out there for her to sneakily usurp Ichiko's good fortune from her, and that's where some of the funniest situations arise. Ichiko and Momiji bicker like an old married couple, though over the course of thirteen episodes they grow to bond over a strained friendship, as one slowly begins to understand the other.
While there are male supporting characters (and some particularly weird ones) to speak of, the plot progresses at a nice pace while managing to focus solely on Ichiko and her personal growth. Despite disgusting monsters posing as maids and perverted monks making for some inane moments here and there, there are heartfelt and profound times as well, and that's what kept me interested beyond the laugh-a-minute script I was impressed with.
It's a surprisingly poignant mixture of slapstick comedy and outlandish situations that you might actually learn a thing or two from. There can be good in the heart of the rudest person, and perhaps they can't help their rough edges. These types of themes give me the impression that Good Luck Girl could have been produced in a simpler time, before moe blossomed into the industry-enveloping shadow it is today. Even the animation hearkens back to an earlier time, and that makes it a sort of anime comfort food for me. Good Luck Girl is a dark horse you probably haven't heard of (or will hear of in the months to come) but it's an excellent series with plenty to offer: hilarious references, thoughtful character backgrounds, and an excellent script, in both the English and Japanese versions. It may be a little slow to reach a "resolution," but the journey is worth taking, especially if you like a more traditional approach to character studies with wacky dynamics like those of Ichiko and Momiji's. And you just can't say no to characters who cosplay. It's an iron-clad rule for gals.
8.0 – Great. A great example of its genre that everyone should see, regardless of their interest.

Way too much luck to go aroundWhen I first started watching Good Luck Girl, I had just finished up the sex comedy B Gata H Kei (Yamada's First Time), which was surprisingly hilarious given its lack of actual sex. I'm a big supporter of anime comedies, esp...

Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha has officially been added to FUNimation's winter 2014 simulcast line up! The anime is based off the manga written and illustrated by Morohe Yoshida herself. It began serialization back in August 2010,...

So if your a dedicated Evangelion fan like myself, you've been waiting for the third movie of the series to come out on DVD for ages. I want to own it for myself so badly, and I know a lot of other people want to as well...

In a move that pleased me to no end, Sentai Filmworks now has the digital, DVD and Blu-Ray to the first season of Familiar of Zero, known as Zero no Tsukaima to long time fans. Originally licensed by Geneon and then shortly a...

Las Vegas seems like the right place to celebrate the first episode of Space Dandy, and so Otakon Vegas and FUNimation are having a sneak preview on the day it airs on Adult Swim, on Saturday, January 4th. Space Dandy's premi...

Toonami's January 4th premiere date reaffirmedIn an effort to hype us all to death -- and no, we certainly don't mind -- Bandai Visual has reaffirmed Space Dandy's January 4th premiere for Adult Swim's Toonami block. They've also passed along a short list of English voic...

Nov 28 //
Ben HuberWolf ChildrenStudio: Madhouse & Studio ChizuLicensed by: FUNimationRelease Date: 11/26/13MSRP: $34.98 [Amazon $29.73]
It's refreshing to see an animated film focus on the difficulties single parents go through. Fearing the reaction of people around her, Hana moves out to the countryside, far from prying eyes and nosy neighbors. However, her new neighbors (though now separated by miles of field) are equally nosy, but offer help as well. Gardening help!
The crux of the film revolves around Hana dealing with her children as they grow into their own. Is it a coming of age story? In a sense, but not from the perspective of the person growing up as per usual, but instead from that of their caretaker, who struggles with how much to allow or reign in. Do you ram it into their heads to never let their wolf side show, or do you let things come as they may?
The direction is great, with lots of pulled-back static shots that let you take in the environment and watch as tiny figures dance through the forest. Generally everything is easy to read and is well-composed. There's one lengthy shot where the camera dodges and weaves between (I'm assuming) CGI trees that seemed out of place to me and pulled me out for a moment, but thankfully that was the only direction issue I had.
The overall arcs of the movie felt a bit predictable to me, as I was always able to guess what was going to happen next. Yet, despite the story following certain conventions, I was still emotionally invested in the characters, which I feel is a testament to the skill of the animators.
The animation is a collaboration between Madhouse and Hosoda's studio, Studio Chizu. As I'm sure most readers have come to expect from Madhouse, it's wonderful work. Ame and Yuki look positively rambunctious as they scamper around the house, changing into a wolf one second, then back the next. The transitions are natural and fluid, making them really feel like wild animals. I imagine a lot of work went into studying the movements of real wolves, and it paid off.
Overall, the art is a real draw here, especially with the beautiful contrast between the painterly backgrounds and the thin lines of the characters. The only minor issue I had was with some of the wolves' faces. Giving them very human eyes and hair just results in them occasionally looking like a bad DeviantArt OC. This is in conjunction with the great lineart, though, so it left me confused. I got over it pretty quickly and I imagine most viewers won't mind it either.
As far as subs and dubs go, the Blu-ray and DVD feature both as options. The English dub is perfectly serviceable, though no one really stood out to me. The sub is fine as well, and will probably be the preferred method for most fans -- just know that the dub won't embarrass you if your family or friends want to watch too.
Mamoru Hosoda has completed another great film. Despite a few minor issues regarding certain designs and running just a tad too long, I really enjoyed the movie and found it heartwarming. If you're up for a bittersweet but adorable tale about kids growing up and their mother learning to let them go, then don't wait too long. Hosoda masterfully tugs your heartstrings without becoming overwrought and leaves you satisfied in the end; Wolf Children is another must-watch.
8.0 – Great. A great example of its genre that everyone should see, regardless of their interest.

Mamoru Hosoda leads us through another adorable adventureA girl and her werewolf. It's a tale as old as the setting sun, right? Or at least as old as the twilight.
Mamoru Hosoda has had a solid career so far. He's covered a variety of subjects and each film has been released to cri...

Anthony RedgraveI'm very interested going forward reading the Vertical Bakemonogatari light novels having seen the anime first i.e. the reverse of what I did with Kizumonogatari. Would I think the novels are too bland without the superb animation/ direction of the anime?Anthony RedgraveKizumonogatari films 1+2 are technically marvellous and brilliant adaptation of the highlights from the source material. Despite the Monogatari origins it is not beginner friendly. A lot of Monogatari staples are omitted/muted and has more horror elementsGarage HeroGarage Hero is an independent movie group based in Tokyo, Japan that specializes in (but not limited to) the Tokusatsu genre of Japanese Cinema. Follow us on Twitter (@garagepro7) and Facebook!albasIt seems like Qpost isn't as well integrated as it is in dtoid. Shame this place isn't more active but I still love all of you. DeScruff SypranHello I guess I'm new. I came in because of the Va-11 Hall-A stream last night.
When I get back home I'll explore this site a bit!animenekogirlHi I'm new and well I love anime...kevinperdueSometimes it just hard waiting for the pre-order. You know? But then there is other anime :).Red VeronHey, readers! I love you<3Rin HarukaOh my gosh i just finished clannad after story for the second time and i need at least 5 more tissue boxes sniff sniff Hiroko YamamurahikevinperdueYeah! I ordered three things all at different times and they all came in at the same time. Thanks name withheld ordering company!Salvador G RodilesSince my condition hasn't improved that much from yesterday, my Jtor Live segment won't be happening tonight. If anything, it should be back this Saturday.Salvador G RodilesSince I'm feeling under the weather right now (curse you, spring season), this week's Jtor Live shall be pushed to Sunday.Anthony RedgraveHearts over Hanekawa! <3Salvador G RodilesAs a heads-up, this week's Jtor Live is being pushed back to Sunday. Anthony RedgraveSomeone's got a new desktop background :DAnthony RedgraveI don't know what this is, but it's tres Adorbs!OverlordZettaI am choosing to believe Umaru randomly decided to make this reference and no one can stop me.Anthony RedgraveJust going to leave this hereAnthony Redgrave"In the name of the moon I will punish you!" with a posed look